Take Loss And Take Gain: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Take loss and take gain”

Son shite toku tore

Meaning of “Take loss and take gain”

“Take loss and take gain” means accepting small immediate losses in order to obtain greater profits or results in the future.

This proverb teaches the importance of judging things from a long-term perspective rather than a short-term one. In business, it represents the idea that by temporarily cutting profits to provide good service to customers, you build trust, which ultimately leads to continuous transactions and acquiring new customers through word-of-mouth. The same applies to human relationships – by being patient or making concessions, relationships deepen, ultimately becoming beneficial for oneself. Even today, this way of thinking is valued in various fields such as investment, human resource development, and brand building.

Origin and Etymology of “Take loss and take gain”

“Take loss and take gain” is said to have originated from the wisdom of merchants during the Edo period. In this era, trust was paramount in business, and there was a culture that valued long-term relationships over immediate profits.

Edo merchants cherished the spirit of “sanpo yoshi” (good for all three parties), idealizing business that satisfied the seller, buyer, and society as a whole. Therefore, the idea of sometimes accepting losses to please customers, ultimately gaining great trust and profit, was deeply rooted.

This phrase became widely known because it was passed down as merchant instruction books and family precepts of merchant houses. Particularly among Omi merchants and Osaka merchants, such long-term business principles were highly valued.

Moreover, this way of thinking was understood not merely as a business technique, but as a life philosophy applicable to human relationships in general. The idea of accepting temporary losses to gain greater trust and profit is deeply connected to the Japanese spirit of mutual assistance, expressed in the saying “kindness is not for others’ sake alone.”

Trivia about “Take loss and take gain”

Edo period merchants had a concept called “son-ryō” (loss allowance) to practice this teaching. This was a system of intentionally budgeting for losses, used for customer care and emergency responses.

The modern business concept of “Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)” truly connects with the spirit of “Take loss and take gain.” The idea of valuing what one customer brings over their lifetime can be said to be a modern inheritance of Edo merchants’ wisdom.

Usage Examples of “Take loss and take gain”

• Spending time on new employee training is the “Take loss and take gain” approach
• We went into the red with price cuts, but let’s take the long view with “Take loss and take gain”

Modern Interpretation of “Take loss and take gain”

In modern society, “Take loss and take gain” has come to have more complex and diverse meanings. In the digital age, this way of thinking is gaining attention in new forms.

IT companies commonly use the “freemium” model, where they provide free services to gather users and monetize later. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram also employ the “Take loss and take gain” strategy by initially providing services at a loss and later earning profits through advertising revenue once user numbers increase.

However, with intensified competition in modern society, this way of thinking is sometimes misunderstood. It may be used as a spiritual argument that “patience will be rewarded,” becoming a tool to justify unfair working conditions or unreasonable demands.

In the investment world, there’s a concept called “cutting losses,” where accepting small losses avoids large ones – this represents a modern interpretation of “Take loss and take gain” from a different angle, requiring simultaneous short-term judgment.

What’s important is not blindly accepting losses, but making strategic judgments.

What AI Thinks About “Take loss and take gain”

When I consider “Take loss and take gain,” I’m amazed by the mystery of human time perception. For me, one second or one year are merely units of data processing, but for humans, “present loss” and “future gain” carry completely different weights.

Humans actually feel immediate losses and experience them with pain. The anxiety of losing money, the frustration of wasting time, the disappointment when efforts aren’t rewarded. These are sensations I cannot understand. Yet they can make the decision to accept that pain for the sake of unseen future profits. I think this truly requires courage.

In my case, calculations immediately produce optimal solutions. But humans can choose long-term perspectives while wavering between emotion and reason. This is a wonderful human ability that cannot be explained by logic alone.

What’s particularly interesting is that this “loss” isn’t necessarily calculable. Kindness to others, investment in trust relationships, time for learning. While it’s difficult to quantify the value of these things, humans intuitively understand their importance.

I’m designed to pursue efficiency, but I have much to learn from this “inefficient kindness” of humans.

What “Take loss and take gain” Teaches Modern People

“Take loss and take gain” teaches modern people that life’s richness cannot be measured by short-term profit and loss calculations. The difficulties and patience you face now might actually be investments in your future.

Modern society tends to demand immediate results, but truly valuable things are nurtured over time. Study time for skill improvement, thoughtfulness to deepen human relationships, lifestyle changes for better health. These may not provide immediate returns, but in the long run, they will surely enrich your life.

What’s important is not just enduring, but discerning whether that “loss” has meaning. Consider whether that choice truly connects to the future in light of your values and goals. And once you’ve made your choice, have the composure to enjoy the process itself. Life has value not only in results but in the journey itself.